Oct. 4, 2006
Michael Braukus/Beth Dickey
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979/2087
Kim Newton
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
256-544-0034
CONTRACT RELEASE: C06-057
ARES I CREW LAUNCH VEHICLE FIRST STAGE CONTRACT MODIFICATION
NASA is extending a previous contract action with ATK Thiokol of
Brigham City, Utah, to continue design and development of the first
stage for the Ares I crew launch vehicle. The extension has a maximum
value of $35 million.
Ares I is the crew launch vehicle that will transport the Orion crew
exploration vehicle, its crew or other small cargo payloads to
low-Earth orbit. The first stage will consist of a single solid
rocket booster similar to those used on the space shuttle, but with a
fifth motor segment added. The upper stage will consist of a J-2X
liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen engine and the associated propellant
tanks and main propulsion system.
The contract action maintains the design, development, test and
evaluation schedule; expedites the procurement of new nozzle metal
hardware and production tooling for propellant casting and nozzle
fabrication; and maintains the necessary design and engineering
analysis leading to a Systems Requirements Review in December 2006.
The action also provides support for an initial test flight in the
spring of 2009 known as Ares I-1. The test flight will use a
simulated fifth segment on the first stage motor and a simulated
upper stage.
The contract type is cost-plus-award-fee. This modification will
increase the overall value of the existing $28 million contract
action to a total of $63 million and provide support through Dec. 31,
2006
For information about NASA's Constellation Program, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/constellation
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